An axis for artistic and creative-types of the Asian persuasian… Redefining Otaku Culture.

Menu

Tag Archives: Sony PlayStation 4

While Japanese traditional-style weddings are still popular, most newlyweds tend to tie the knot with weddings based on Western-style themes and traditions with the bride in a white, flowing gown and the groom in a sharp tux. But what about a wedding that’s espionage-themed?

That’s what this promo forMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain attempts to showcase. The video hilariously chronicles the pair’s most important day, from the altar approach to the couple’s profile videos and even the banquet afterwards. The video peaks when the father finally gives away his daughter to his new son-in-law with a ceremonial PlayStation Dual Shock 4 controller, but to an incredibly confused caterer who has no idea what’s going on.

Sony targets 2016 for a “Project Morpheus” virtual reality release on the PlayStation 4. Having revealed a new and much-enhanced prototype of a VR headset at the Game Developers Conference, Sony also unveiled plans for its release along with tentative specs. First seen at last year’s GDC, the headset now features an upgraded 5.7-inch OLED screen, greatly reducing motion blur and latency that was found in the original. Morpheus is also expected to support graphics at 120 frames per second, and PS4 consoles are able to natively support that output.

Not only did Sony reveal the hardware, but they demoed three games that use Morpheus as well. One of which is named “London Heist,” a cover-based first-person shooting game in which you duck behind desks, pop up to shoot, and use PlayStation Move controllers to reload. Using the controllers, the device is able to translate real physical movements into the game, resulting in a very engaging and firsthand primary experience.

Sony will begin releasing Morpheus to developers in April, but check back for more information and details.

VR unit-awaiting heads up, gamers and tech fans. Sony has announced that Project Morpheus, its virtual reality add-on for PlayStation 4, will go on sale during the first half of 2016. And the latest build is boasting some impressive stats.

It may have been in development for years, but when Sony lifted the lid on its virtual reality headset at Game Developers Conference last year, many – most notably those who had either backed or firmly believed the path to VR enlightenment to be Kickstarter success story Oculus Rift – were quick to suggest that the Japanese tech company’s device would be a poor imitation of VR, pointing to Oculus’ superior specs and enormous number of financial backers and supporters.

A year on, and neither headset is yet available for consumers to buy, but today at GDC 2015, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that Project Morpheus will be in consumers’ hands in the first half of 2016. And with it they have announced a slew of improvements to the already impressive device.

Morpheus now has a 5.7 inch OLED display. After receiving comments from users who noticed some image blurring while using the 2014 model, Sony has fitted the newest version of Morpheus with a 1920 x RGB x 1080 OLED display. What that means is that the pixels which make up the image each contain red, green and blue “sub-pixels” which flicker on and off, thus helping to eliminate the kind of blur often seen on regular LCD displays.

The screen now boasts a 120hz refresh rate – double that of the previous model – and a latency of only 18 milliseconds. That’s fast. Developers can reportedly render their games at 60fps but output at 120fps thanks to a technique known as “reprojection”, thus enabling a smoother experience less likely to result in user motion sickness.

The unit’s field-of-view has been bumped up from 90 degrees to 100, which, while not quite as wide as Oculus Rift’s, has reportedly made a noticeable difference to the slight “letterbox” effect that some users commented on in 2014.

Users can now quickly and easily lift up the display panel section without removing the headset entirely – something that will probably come in handy when your cat rubs up against your leg while you’re being stalked by an acid-spitting Xenomorph or exploring a snake-filled cave and you just have to know what just touched you IRL.

The headset has also been given additional motion-tracking sensors which work with the PlayStation Camera, going from six in the model shown last year to nine, allowing for greater accuracy and 360-degree head tracking.

Of course, all of this is subject to change, and at the rate at which VR tech is improving, we can almost certainly count on a few more improvements by the time the unit is available to buy. But judging by these figures, providing Sony can launch Project Morpheus at an affordable price point (and hopefully with a new name), this could well prove to be the perfect entry model for those looking to make their first foray into the world of virtual reality, minimal tinkering and technical know-how required. And while the unit may or may not end up being eclipsed by its competitors in terms of technical prowess, Gizmodo UK’s Sean Hollister has already gone on record to state that Project Morpheus is easily the most comfortable virtual reality unit he has ever used, even going as far as to call it “the best I’ve ever tried”.

As for the actual games? Well, Sony has promised to show us more this June at E3.

Koreangamers and netizens are crying tears of joy now that Sony has announced it will be translating some of the most popular Playstation titles into Korean for the first time. This might come as a surprise for many considering the popularity of video games in Japan’s close neighbor, but for years fans of these series were deprived of the ultimate gaming experience in their native tongue. However, that will finally change this summer.

Described by many netizens as a “dream come true,” Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced recently on their official website and blog that two of the most popular series available on the PlayStation, Dragon Questand Metal Gear Solid, will be localized into Hangul, slated for release in summer this year. This strategic move is accompanied by the release of the PlayStation 4, also localized, and was announced by SCE Korea CEO Shiro Kawauchi. Korean fans can definitely look forward to an epic summer of endless gaming.

This move by SCE Korea generated much buzz on social media, and netizens have expressed nothing but immense joy at this news:

“Currently, the most likable Japanese person in Korea is the CEO that announced the news.”

“I can’t believe this is happening in my lifetime!”

“Kawauchi actually shed tears and told the Korean users, ‘Thank you so much for waiting.’ What a great guy.”

“I am cancelling all my summer vacation plans to buy the PS4.”

Looks like Sony played their cards right this time. Not only are Korean fans super-hyped for the PS4, their CEO also shot to fame as one of the most popular Japanese people in a country where netizens are often hostile to the Japanese.

Bandai Namco Games announced it will release the new Godzilla game on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in July.

The game will get a retail release for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe and a PlayStation 3 release via the PLAYSTATION Network.

Players will be able to control both the classic TOHO version of the monster and the 2014 American film Godzilla in the game. The game will also feature the Type 92 Maser tanks, Super X 2, Super X III, Super Mecha Godzilla, and MFS-3 — as well as Godzilla’s rivals: King Ghidorah, Biollante, Mothra, Mecha Godzilla, Jet Jaguar, Hedorah, and Destoroyah.

The “ultra-destructive Godzilla action” game commemorates the 60th anniversary of the titular monster by letting you play the monster itself against human civilization, as you clear missions by destroying buildings and weapons. The game recreates the camera angles that invoke the sense of scale, the fireworks explosions, and the latest techniques from the original tokusatsu (special effects) films.

Famitsu magazine described a backstory that takes its cues from TOHO‘s first Godzilla movies: Godzilla, who appeared in Tokyo in 1954 and was brought down by the secret weapon Oxygen Destroyer, has somehow made landfall again. As the players complete missions to destroy civilization, Godzilla will increase size and physical strength. Godzilla starts at 50 meters (164 feet) and can grow to double that size. Players gain points when Godzilla destroys the town, but the resistance from humanity becomes more difficult as the game goes on.

Godzilla for the PlayStation 3 arrived in Japan on December 18 for 7,600 yen (about US$64). The first copies of the game included an early unlock code for the Hollywood Godzilla (2014) as a bonus extra. Pre-orders included one of three randomly distributed “Heat Up Godzilla” reproductions of theater bonus figurines.

What do you get the gamer that has everything? For starters, how about a 24-karat controller? High-end electronics customizer ColorWare is now offering exactly that with the introduction of gilded controllers for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Both Sony and Microsoft‘s controllers undergo a complex process to achieve the rich, glossy effect while their buttons and overall ergonomics remain untouched.

Said ColorWare CEO Justin Cisewski of the idea:

“24k gold is something we have been experimenting with for a while. The gaming controllers are so popular we thought it would be fun to create an exclusive gaming controller for those diehard gamers.”

Limited to just 25 of each style, the limited edition, individually numbered controllers are now available from ColorWare’s website and are slated to ship in three to four weeks.

Sony said it sold more than one million units of the new PlayStation 4 videogame console to consumers in its first day on sale, indicating strong initial demand for the device.

Andrew House, head of the Japanese tech giant’s videogame division said in a statement that gamers appear to be reacting well to the device.

“Sales remain very strong in North America, and we expect continued enthusiasm as we launch the PlayStation 4 in Europe and Latin America,” he said. The device will continue its rollout beyond North American markets on Nov. 29.

The company has said it expects to sell five million units by March, which would beat the initial sales rollout of its last-generation videogame device, the PlayStation 3, which sold 3.5 million units worldwide over the same introductory period.

Sony’s data follow an initial flood of enthusiasm and long lines at stores for the PS4’s debut at midnight Friday morning, as well as stock-outs reported at many retailers.

The numbers are a positive sign for the videogame console industry, which has struggled in recent years through a protracted slump as consumers have held off purchasing or turned to games offered on mobile devices and social networking websites.

Videogame executives have blamed the industry’s contracting sales on the cyclical nature of the console devices, citing sales slowdowns shortly before Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PlayStation 3 were all introduced between 2005 and 2006. Shortly after their introduction, console videogame sales surged 28% in 2007, according to data from market research firm PwC.

This time, however, sales are expected to grow more slowly. PwC says it expects worldwide console games sales to grow 4.2% to $25.98 billion this year, up from $24.93 billion a year prior. In 2014, sales are expected to rise another 6.4% to $27.62 billion.

The strong sales data from Sony, though, point to the possibility of a more dramatic uptick. Still, analysts warn, the real test of the device will be over the longer term, and whether it can mirror or even beat the momentum of its predecessors.

Sony had earlier said it had ample quantities of the device, citing easier manufacturing processes. Analysts have said they expect Sony to sell as many PS4s as it can manufacture over the holiday shopping season. Microsoft, which is launching its Xbox One on Nov. 22, said it too has strong supplies ahead of launch.

Separately, some customers have complained on social networking websites that their PlayStation 4 devices weren’t acting as they should, including inability to turn on as expected. Sony said it is investigating the reports, but believes the issue impacts a “very small percentage total units shipped to consumers.”